This contemporary, adult psychological novel probes love, secrecy, and the work of grief. Centered on Ana, a lawyer drawn into a concealed affair with a client, the story follows her as loss washes ashore and she confronts truth, desire, and accountability. It speaks to readers who crave character-driven fiction with psychological depth and a dark, unsettled atmosphere.

The reading experience is story-led and powered by lean, precise prose that leans into inner life rather than outward action. The tension comes from what remains unsaid as Ana navigates guilt, longing, and the consequences of keeping secrets, with a narrative structure that shifts between perspectives and time to mirror a fractured memory.

Readers engage through intimate, morally complex scenes that unfold through two women's perspectives and real emotional stakes. The work invites reflection on forgiveness, choice, and the ripple effects of hidden lives, rewarding careful, immersive reading with a steady sense of unease and intrigue.

• Morally complex love affair and the aftermath of loss
• Two-woman emotional core driving the investigation of truth and forgiveness
• Lean, precise prose with a taut, atmospheric mood
• Short chapters and a controlled pace that heightens suspense
• Shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Award
• Ideal for readers of contemporary literary fiction and psychological fiction with emotional depth

After finishing, readers gain a deeper understanding of how grief reshapes love, how secrets shape choices, and how truth can emerge from the most private corners of a life. The book leaves a lasting impression with its restrained intensity and enduring questions about desire, responsibility, and resilience.